1891 Photo Album with 26 Original Albumen Photographs Depicting Two Significant Mountaineering Expeditions Summiting both Mount Rainier in 1890 and Mount Baker in 1891, and Early Images of the Cascade Mining District circa 1890. The pioneering photographers were William Oscar Amsden (1862-1942) and Hobart Clark of Seattle. These photographs are of historical importance for a number of reasons: the Mount Baker Series were the first photographs taken at the top of the summit; The Mount Rainier Series was crucial in marshaling support for establishing Mount Rainier as a National Park (this expedition included Fay Fuller who was the first woman to summit Mount Rainier); the Cascade Mining Series depict one of the oldest mining districts in Northern Washington, discovered by the Rouse brothers who made the first major discovery of ores on the edge of Doubtful Lake.

Photograph Album. Oblong, textured brown cloth covered boards, 12.75" x 10", lace bound, embossed gilt printing on the cover, 26 board leaves, the photographs range from 9" x 7" to 9.75" x 7.5", mounted on 11.5" x 9.75 cream board, 25 of the photographs are mounted on one leaf, one is mounted on a verso. Captions at the bottom in the negative. GOOD CONDITION: wear/staining to the covers, spine covering tearing at the margins but still holding, gilt remains bright, internally, waviness, light shorelining and light foxing to the boards. The photographs are mostly clean, clear and legible, some toning, fading, a few small stains/abrasions. Scarce.

MOUNT RAINIER SERIES: Photographs documenting the glaciers, summit, and natural scenery of the 1890 Mt. Rainier summit bound expedition led by Reverend Ernest C. Smith. The party included Fay Fuller, Leonard Longmire, William O. Amsden, and Robert R. Parrish. Fay Fuller was the first woman to ascend Mount Rainier. Amsden had a heavy 8x10 camera. Shortly after the climb Amsden produced his series of Mount Rainier photographs. Expedition leader Smith wrote of the series "Amsden's photographs have a historic interest. Without them there would have been no illustrated lecture in Washington at the crucial time for the proposed park."

this underscores how the Mount Rainier National Park idea was rooted in the physical and aesthetic experience of climbing the mountain. The arguments that were marshaled in support of Mount Rainier National Park during the 1890s helped shape the national park idea at a crucial time.

CASCADE MINING DISTRICT SERIES: Photographs document the mines, miners, and natural scenery of the mining district. The Cascade Mining District is one of the oldest mining districts in northern Western Washington, dating its formal organization to September, 1889. Prospectors George Rouse and John Rouse, traveling from the west over Cascade Pass made the first major discovery when they located ores on the edge of Doubtful Lake.

MOUNT BAKER SERIES: Photographs document the ascent of Mt. Baker led by Valentine V. Lowe in June-July 1891. Photos include: men with alpenstocks amongst trees; men waving flag and hats on summit. The expedition party included photographer William O. Amsden, Henry Lowe, Ed. Whitstruck, Percival J. Parris, G. W. Smith, Tom Scatbo, and photographer Hobert Clark. These photographs are the first ever made with a camera on the top of Mt. Baker.